Debris flow behavior during the September 2013 rainstorm event in the Colorado Front Range, USA

Debris flows are highly unpredictable and mechanically chaotic phenomena that can spread or branch away from an expected path or pre-existing channel, a phenomenon termed avulsion. While avulsion is expected to occur over long time periods on mature debris fans, it can also occur on short time scales and outside of active portions of fans. This was the case during the 9-13 September 2013 rainstorm event that triggered over 1000 debris flows in the Colorado Front Range. This research examines the geomorphic and topographic characteristics of debris flows during this event to identify the controlling variables of avulsion during singular events. Avulsion was observed in 1/3 of the debris flows, which were classified into 5 distinct behaviors and thus hazard implications, including directional change, distributary, split, free spreading, and braided. Debris flows that avulsed were twice as long and 6 times more likely to have path obstructions than non-avulsed paths. Additionally, locations along a debris-flow path with low lateral confinement and decreasing slope angles were more prone to avulsion. The high frequency of avulsed debris flows during the 2013 rainstorm event emphasizes the importance of considering avulsion potential during debris-flow mitigation design. The common characteristics of avulsed flows highlighted here could be incorporated into future hazard modeling efforts.

Automated summary

Debris flows are highly unpredictable phenomena capable of branching away from expected paths or pre-existing channels in a phenomenon known as avulsion. Research during a rainstorm event in 2013 identified that 1/3 of debris flows exhibited avulsion, with distinct behaviors and hazard implications. Avulsed flows were longer and more likely to have path obstructions, with locations of low lateral confinement and decreasing slope angles being more prone to avulsion.